Amalgamating-machine.



(No Model.)

, Patented Feb. 25, |902. G. C. SCUTT.

AMALGAMATING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 21, 1901) AT ORNEY i Izen of the United States,r esiding at Columbus,

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

GERARD O. SCOTT, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

AMALGAMATlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,112, dated February 25, 1 902.

Application filed .T une 21, 1901. Serial No. 65.397. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GERARD C. SCOTT, a citiin the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Amalgamating-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement -0f amalgamating-machines; and the objects of my invention are to providearnachine of this class of improved and superior construction whereby the separation of precious metals from the ore-pulp is thoroughly and rapidly accomplished,to provide improved means for subjecting the amalgamating material to a mercurial bath or coating, and to produce certain improvements vin details of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central Vertical section of my improved amalgamator. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line a: a: of Fig. ll. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the outer end portion of the lower casing-section; and Fig.- 4 is a detail View in section of the lower portion of one of the water-supply-pipe arms, 'which I employ in the manner hereinafter described.

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention I employ an external suitably-supported casing comprising united semicylindrical upper and lower sections l and 2. Journ'aled centrally and longitudinally withinthe casing thus Aformed is a shaft 3, on one end of which is carried a suitable belt or operating-wheel 4, the'operating-belt 5 of which passes upward through a vertical ore-pulp inlet 6, formed at one end of the upper casing-section l. Leading outward and thence upward from the external casing at the opposite end from that having the inlet 6 is a discharge-casing neck or end extension 7, the latter beingformed in its upper portion and on its under side with amercury catch-pocket 8. Mounted at desirable intervals on the shaft?) are copper disks or amalgamating-plates 9, the outer strengthened edge portions of which are adapted to run in curved recesses or ways 10, formed on the inner surface of the casing-section. I

parts also mount on the shaft 3, between the disks 9, disk-like casingsll, the parallel sides of which are formed of wire-'netting or other suitable open-work. As indicated -at l2 and shown Vmore clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the vplates 9 are provided with Yslotted openings, which are' preferably radially arranged, as shown. I provide the casings Il with a filllar naturev shown in the drawings or may be in the form of comparatively loosely-packed strips, balls, or blocks of copper. Within the lower casing-section 2 I provide a parallel arcury. wells Vor pockets-14 andk 15, the Wells 14 being adapted to receive the lower halves or portions ofY the amalgamator-disks 9 and the wellsl adapted in likeV manner to receive disk-like casings ll. ted lines in the lower half of the 'external casing, the wells 14 and 15V are adapted to be filled with mercury, while beneath and about vide a steam heating-chamber 16, the latter having an inletr 17 and outlet'lS.

From a Water-supply pipe 19, which leads above the upper casing-section l, depend pipethrough said casing-section between the disks 9 and casingsll to points adjacent to the central shaft 3,and, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the lower end of each it'y'of comparatively small'outlet-openings 2l; Journaled transversely in the base of the discharge-neckV 7 is a sprocket-wheel carrying shaft 22, while a similar shaft 23 is journaled of said neck and above the mercury-pocketSa Running over the sprocket-wheels 24 of these shafts are endless chain belts 242,'the links of which are connected by transversely-arranged The traveling apron or belt thus formed is provided at desirable intervals with ytransverse cup-bodies 25, of whichthere may be one or more. As indicated in the drawings, the lower shaft 22 is so located with reference to the machine as to cause said cup or cups 25 in passing about the lower sprocket-wheel 24 to run through the body of mercury. From ing 13, of copper, which may be of the granu- I said Wells said casing is'so formed as to prorangement-of substantially semicircular merand provide a way for the lower half of the As indicated by the dotarms' 20, the latter extending downward of these pipe-arms'is provided with a pluralparallel therewith in theupper end portions and parallel strips or plates 24h, of copper.

IOO

the bottom of the mercury-receiving pocket 8 leads rearwardly a pipe 26, the remaining end of which enters the feed end of the outer casing of the machine and is adapted to discharge its contents into the mercury at that end of the machine. Upon the upper shaft 24 I mount a suitable operating-Wheel 27.

In practice the orc-pulp from which the precious metals are to be separated is introduced into the machine through theinlet 6 under pressure and passing through the radial openings 12 of the plates 9 and through the comparatively loose amalgamating material contained in the casings ll is carried to the opposite end of the machine and the tailings discharged through the neck 7. Rotary motion being contributed to the shaft 3, and consequently to the amalgamating-plates 9 and casings 11, it is obvious that during the passage of said pulp through the machine said amalgamating devices will be carried through the mercury contained yin their respective wells 14 and l5, with the result that the ore is subjected in its passage through the machine to the amalgamating action of the mercurially-treated plates, casings, and casing contents.

By suitable means rotary motion is contributed to the shaft 23, With the result that a traveling motion is imparted to the chains 24, which carry the cups 25 and plates 24b through the body of mercury contained in the base of the neck 7. The mercury Which is thus elevated by said cu ps is deposited by the latter into the pocket or receptacle 8, owing to said cups being inverted in passing over the upper sprocket-Wheel. From this pocket 8 the mercury which has thus been elevated may be returned through the pipe 26 to the opposite end of the machine-casing. In this manner a desirable circulation or movement of the mercury through the Wells is obtained, and the mercury contained in the pocket 8 may be subjected to such chemical or other cleaning action as may be deemed desirable prior to its return to the body of the machine. It Will also be seen that in carrying the amalgamating-plate 24b through the mercury contained in the base of the neck 7 said plates are subjected to a mercury-bath, and there fore serve the double purpose of assisting in carrying the tailings up to the point of discharge and of continuing the process of amalgamation on the ore-pulp or tailings thereof which are brought into contact with said mercurially-treated plates.

By providing the Water-pipe arms 20 and connecting the same with a supply of Water under pressure the Water-jets which are thus discharged through the pipe-openings 2l serve to impart a desirable agitation to the ore-pnl p contained Within the amalgamating-disks and assistin directing the same uniformly through said disks.

While the machine is shown herein as supported horizontally, it is obvious that the same might be supported at a desirable innaled in said casing, of copper disks mounted Y d on said shaft and provided with radially-arranged openings, said casing adapted to contain a body of mercury and said disks adaptedto travel through the mercury contained in said casing and casings mounted on said shaft and alternating with said disks, sub l stantially as specified.

2. In an amalgamator,the combination with a casing, said casing having an inletbpenin g at one end and a discharge-opening at the other and the lower portion of said casing having formed therein parallel Wells or mercury-pockets, of a shaft journaled centrally in the casing l, amalgamatin g plate disks having openings therein and mounted on said shaft, circular casings carried by said shaft and alternating with said disks, said casing adapted to contain a body of mercury and said casings and disks adapted to run through a body of mercury contained in said Wells or pockets when the shaft is rotated, substantially as specified.

3. In an amalgamator, the combination with an external casingl having an inlet and outlet opening and mercury Wells or pockets formed in the loWer portion of said external casing adapted to contain mercury, of a central shaft journaled in the external casing and circular casings ll mounted on said shaft and adapted when the latter is rotated to run ina body of mercury contained in said wells, each of said casings having a filling of amalgamating material, substantially as specified.

4. In an amalgamator, the combination with an external casing l having inlet and outlet openings and mercury-containing Wells formed in the lower portion of said external casing, of a central shaft journaled in the casing, amalgamating-disks carried on said shaft and running in said Wells and Water carrying pipes leading into the external casing and discharging between said disks, substantially as specified.

5. In an amalgamator, the combination with the external casing l having an inlet and outlet opening and having mercury-containing Wells formed in its lower portion, of a central shaft journaled in said casing,amalgamating disks 12 having openings therein and casings 1l having open-Work sides, said disks and casings mounted on said shaft and said casings having illings of amalgamating material and both casings and disks adapted to run in said mercury-containing Wells, substantially as specified.

6. In an amalgamator, the combination with an external casing l having an inlet-opening IOO IIO

'at one end and an upwardly-inclined discharge-neck at the other, said discharge-neck adapted to contain mercury and having a discharge-neck andn the lower portion of,

the external casing'and a pipe connectionbetween the mercury-pocket 8 and the opposite end of the external casing, substantially as specified.

7. In an amalgamator, the combination with an external casing l having'an `inlet-opening at one end andan upwardly-inclined discharge-neck at'l the other, said dischargeneck adapted to contain mercuryjand having aY pocket depending from and communicating with its outer portion, of a shaft journaled in said external casing', amalgamatingbodies y carried on said shaft, an elevating mechanism mounted to run in said discharge-neck and carrying 'mercury-cups and amalgamatingplates, said cups and amalgamator-plate's adapted to run in a body of mercury contained in the lower portion of the discharge-neck and in "the lower portion of the external casing and a pipe connection between the mercurypocket 8 and the opposite end of the external casing, substantially as specied.

GERARD C. SCOTT.

In presen'ceof- C. C. SHEPHERD, A. L. PHELPS. 

